"I want to marry …"
"Enough."
Feng Zizhi interrupted the Jia Lian, which was rare for him to lose his composure.
He found that he still couldn't listen to it.
"It's almost the New Year.
In half a month, the Emperor will stop writing.
After that, there will be a banquet.
He will invite all the officials.
At that time,
Since His Majesty can let you out openly, you should just endure for a while longer!
Ordinary fifth-grade officials would not be able to attend the New Year's banquet held by the Emperor.
At most, they would write a congratulatory note and present it.
In the end, it would be burned by the eunuchs of the Ceremony Directorate.
However, Jia Lian was not an ordinary person with small facial features.
"There are still some important matters in the factory.
I'll leave first. "
After saying that,
He ignored the Jia Lian's reaction.
He lifted his legs and left.
The Jia Lian blinked in confusion.
Why was it fine just now?
Suddenly there were some important matters?
There were still important matters in the middle of the night?
And he left in such a hurry!
The Jia Lian shrugged helplessly.
He lay back on the couch.
Wife …
My wife?
The Jia Lian stared at the bedpost without focus.
Appearance?
She had to be very, very beautiful. Her skin had to be very, very white.
Figure?
The Jia Lian blushed. He had never heard of any dirty things that those bad men in the barracks had said in the past few months.
It didn't have to be very plump. It would be best if she was flat and skinny.
Height?
She had to be tall, but not too tall.
It would be best if she was only a little shorter than him.
Voice?
Not too tall. It would be very noisy. It would be best if her voice was low and clear.
Temperament?
Don't be too enthusiastic.
He couldn't stand it.
It would be best if she was cold and cared about him.
She had to know martial arts.
But she didn't have to be too strong.
She had him to protect her.
Also!
She had to be good to Ben Xiao. If Ben Xiao didn't like her, he wouldn't want her no matter how good she was.
Moreover, she had to know how to manage the accounts. She had to buy horse grass for Ben Xiao until he was about to go bankrupt.
The more he thought about it, the more a figure appeared in his mind.
The Jia Lian suddenly sat up.
[System, System!
He anxiously called out to the System.
[Ding!
Completed the sudden mission – Fury of Thunder.
The host used iron-blooded methods to shock the capital, successfully took revenge and established his authority, effectively preventing future incidents that would harm his family.
Quest Reward: 500 gold, Beijing Prestige + 50, Fortune Treasure Chest x1, Silver Treasure Chest x2, Bronze Treasure Chest x5.
"
The Jia Lian was anxious and ignored its words. "Give me the Storage Ring!
"
[Ding!
He took out his Storage Ring!
"
In the air, a small silver ring fell into the Jia Lian's hand.
This ring was a reward from the system after he completed a small mission.
That time, he saw a crazy man with a long sword on the outskirts of the capital. The people nearby said that he was a Jianghu swordsman and that his swordsmanship was exquisite beyond compare.
Originally, he roamed the Jianghu, taking the world as his home. Later, when he met the person he liked, he withdrew from the Jianghu, got married, and settled down in the suburbs of the capital.
Who knew that it was not so easy to withdraw from the Jianghu. People can never withdraw from the Jianghu. As long as there are people, there will be grievances, and there will be Jianghu.
It was said that one day, the swordsman's former enemy came to seek revenge, but they were no match for the swordsman's swordsmanship.
However, the enemy actually pushed the swordsman's pregnant wife onto the swordsman's sword.
The swordsman could not stop, and mistakenly killed his wife and his unborn child.
He looked at his hands covered in blood and his wife's corpse. He could not accept it and went crazy.
Every day, at one moment, he would brandish his sword with a murderous look, as if an enemy had found him and was ready to fight to the death; at the next moment, he would walk quietly with a gentle face, as if he were taking a walk with his pregnant wife.
The surrounding people pitied him and helped him from time to time.
However, there was no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Although the swordsman refused to accept the death of his wife and child, he had become haggard and no longer had the carefree and unrestrained style of the past.
The mission that the System gave to the Jia Lian was to wake up the crazy swordsman and let him wake up and face reality.
The Jia Lian thought that this mission would be easy. Although his spear skills were not perfect at that time, he could still fight against four ordinary bodyguards.
What was there to be afraid of when facing a swordsman who had lost his mind?
Who would have thought that the crazy swordsman was a disciple of some famous sect? Even if he was crazy, his swordsmanship was really superb. He also thought that he was one of those enemies who came to seek revenge, so he really did not show any mercy when he attacked.
At that time, he was out riding with Niu Jizong, and Niu Jizong pulled him back when he saw that the situation was not good. Otherwise, he would have lost his wrist.
In the end, Jia Lian took advantage of the terrain, jumping from trees to rocks, and finally managed to land a punch on the vigilante's eye. He pinned him to the ground and gave him a good beating. Only then did the vigilante finally wake up.
After the swordsman woke up, he did not blame him. Instead, he thanked him.
Being able to help others, complete the mission, and improve his understanding of the Yulin Spear, the Jia Lian was very happy and left.
What happened after that, he heard from others.
After the Jia Lian left, the swordsman cleaned up his and his wife's dusty home. He also fetched water and washed himself, as if he was brand new.
He also distributed the money that he had hidden in the dark to those who had helped him all these years.
Finally …
Since the monarch died for his wife, who did he live for?
When he saw pity, the coffin opened for his wife.
That night, he set the house on fire. His clothes were neatly laid on his and his wife's bed. In his arms, he held the red wedding dress that his wife wore when they married.
After the swordsman died for love, the system rewarded him with a ring.
That was the Shadow Storage Ring.
At that time, the Jia Lian was still young and did not understand the taste of love. He threw the ring to the corner and ignored it.
Now that he remembered this matter and the description of the ring, he quickly took it out.
Shadow Storage Ring: "It is said that this ring can store the shadow of the person you love the most, but the price is a drop of your own heart's blood.
"
The person you love the most?
The Jia Lian was stunned.
He touched the golden saber that Hu Hanye gave him by the bed.
Although this saber was a little flashy, it was really sharp.
The Jia Lian planned to find some time to make a new scabbard. The original scabbard that was inlaid with seven priceless gems was just for the Xiao Jia Lian to play with.
As if he was possessed, he pulled out the golden saber and slightly gestured in front of his left chest.
[Ding ding ding ding ding!!!]
The system seemed to feel the danger and kept making 'ding ding ding' sounds.
[Host, what are you doing?
Please stop your hand movements immediately and do not do anything that will cause the system to misunderstand!
]
[I am taking the heart's blood!
If I don't cut the skin, how can I take the heart's blood?]
The Jia Lian did not raise his head and continued to gesture.
[Ding ding ding ding ding!!!!
]
[Host, do you have any common sense!
How can you live if you cut your heart!!!]
The system collapsed. It never thought that the host who never annoyed it would be so crazy when he went crazy.
The system quickly said: [Host, you only need to bite the tip of your tongue. The system will help the host to force the heart's blood out.]
It was really afraid that the host would take things too hard and cut himself too quickly.
The Jia Lian suddenly understood. So that was how it worked.
He was not crazy. He had personally pierced the enemy's heart. It was not that he did not know that he would die if he cut his own heart, but at that moment, it was as if he was possessed.
As long as he could get the answer … to confirm whether the person he loved the most … was him …
It did not matter even if he died.
The Jia Lian bit his tongue and dripped blood on the surface of the Shadow Storage Ring.
The silver surface of the ring also turned red.
He stared at it intently.
He saw a shadow slowly appear …
Eastern Palace
[Humph!
What's so good about that Jia guy?
He's just a kid who is still wet behind the ears!
Father actually reprimanded me for him!]
Although it had been many days, the Crown Prince was still brooding about it.
[Your Highness, don't be angry.
You are the noble Crown Prince, the heir to the throne of the country. Why bother with these officials?]
A beautiful and delicate female attendant poured wine for the Crown Prince and advised, "In our common people's homes, when our children make mistakes with other children, as parents, we will only blame our own children, because there is no overnight hatred between father and son.
Besides, that Jia Lian is after all a foreign official. Even if the Emperor does not care about Duke Rongguo's face, he still has to give face to Grand Secretary Wang!
You and the Emperor are father and son and have a deep relationship. The Emperor has no choice but to wrong you.]
[Humph!]
This chamberlain was really too beautiful. Every frown and smile was breathtaking.
If it were not for the chamberlain's uniform and the inconspicuous bump on his throat, it would be hard for people to know that he was a chamberlain and not the Crown Prince's concubine.
[Cheng Xin, only you understand my heart the most in this world.]
The Crown Prince held Cheng Xin's soft beads, touched. Others only thought that he was angry that he was humiliated by the Jia Lian. In fact, he was just angry that Emperor Wen Of Zhou did not stand on his side.
Cheng Xin lowered his head shyly. The Crown Prince, who had seen thousands of sails, could not help but feel his throat tighten.
The gentleness when he lowered his head was like a water lotus, unable to bear the shyness.
This Cheng Xin clearly reincarnated into the wrong boy. No wonder even the Crown Prince, who was used to seeing all kinds of beautiful women, was infatuated with him.
[The Imperial Household Department has recently received some snow toads. Snow toad cream nourishes the lungs and nourishes Yin. Official You's lungs are not good, so should we give him half?]
Cheng Xin's curled eyebrows seemed to say inadvertently.
[Don't worry about him!]
The Crown Prince was angry at the mention of You Shitai. [It's rare to have a chance to catch the boss in one fell swoop, but it was ruined by him!]
[My uncle!]
[He's really becoming more and more disappointing!]
[]
[Tell me!]
[I reward him with a lot of money and goods during the holidays. How can he not be satisfied!?]
[]
Cheng Xin smiled flirtatiously. [Official You's family is illustrious. Why would he care about these yellow and white things?]
[I think he just wants to share Your Highness's worries.]
[Your Highness, on account of his good intentions, forgive him!]
[Official You is Your Highness's uncle after all.]
[]
With Cheng Xin's words, the Crown Prince's heart softened again.
Cheng Xin, who knew the Crown Prince very well, reached for a yard after being given an inch, said, "Then Cheng Xin will have people send half of the rare treasures He Juzi delivered yesterday to You Daren's fu.
[]
The Crown Prince already agreed in his heart, but he couldn't let his face go, so he could only lightly tap Cheng Xin's forehead and say dotingly, [You!]
[]
[Reporting to Your Highness, the Crown Princess is requesting an audience in the outer hall.]
A chamberlain entered the hall to report.
[What?]
[She's here again?]
[I won't see her!]
When the Crown Prince heard that the Crown Princess was requesting an audience, he hurriedly waved his hand to decline.
[Wait.]
Cheng Xin spoke to stop him. [Your Highness.]
He said coquettishly. His elegance was mixed with a bit of gorgeousness, electrifying the Crown Prince.
[Don't speak up for her. Have you forgotten how she treated you in the past?]
The Crown Prince followed his heart and kissed Cheng Xin before saying this.
Cheng Xin's little face bloomed like a peach blossom. He said shyly and timidly, [Cheng Xin is only a servant. No matter how Her Highness treats Cheng Xin, it's right.]
[]
[Her Highness has lost a child. At this moment, it's inevitable that she's grieving. Your Highness, please take pity on her for losing a child!]
Cheng Xin's eyes glistened with tears as she said empathetically, [Although Cheng Xin can't bear a child for Your Highness, Cheng Xin overestimates herself. If Cheng Xin is fortunate enough to bear a child for Your Highness, but … Cheng Xin will definitely die of sadness!]
After saying this, she buried her head in the Crown Prince's chest.
[You silly child, what do you mean by dying or not dying!]
[Don't you think it's inauspicious?]
The Crown Prince lovingly hugged Cheng Xin tightly. [If you want a child, I'll bring Xiao San over for you to raise. Xiao San will treat you like his own mother.]
The Crown Prince's third son was only one year old and didn't know how to recognize people yet. He was at the age of who raised who.
[It's fine as long as Your Highness has Cheng Xin in your heart. Third Highness is still so young. He can't leave his mother.]
Cheng Xin smiled like a pear blossom in the rain. She pushed the crown prince and urged, "Your Highness, quickly go and see the crown prince consort!"
[Don't make her anxious.]
[]
[Humph!]
[What urgent matter does she have?]
[She just wants me to punish Lady Gongsun.]
The Crown Princess's father was the imperial censorate's doctor, Yan Cen. Her personality was just like Yan Cen's and didn't know how to be romantic at all.
She treated the Crown Prince with great respect. It wasn't a matter of a day or two that the Crown Prince disliked the Crown Princess.
The Crown Prince turned his head and said with disgust, [That Gongsun Yue is also useless!]
[He can't beat that young Jia Lian and was sentenced to death by Imperial Father!]
[He actually dared to collude with the Xiongnu people and betray the country!]
[He caused me to be caught off guard by Old Six during morning court and lost a lot of face!]
[]
If Gongsun Yue came back to life and stood in front of the Crown Prince right now, the Crown Prince would definitely give him a good beating.
[Your Highness!]
Cheng Xin angrily said, unwilling to comply.
Seeing him like this, the Crown Prince's heart softened. He could only helplessly stand up and leave the outer hall to receive the Crown Princess.
Seeing the Crown Prince leave, Cheng Xin's face was still as beautiful as ever. However, her expression gradually became cold and annoyed, no longer as gentle as before.
[Go and report to the head of class that the Crown Prince wants to appoint Zhou Jingdong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, as the chief examiner of this year's imperial examination. Changsha's imperial scholar, He Ziyu, has sent a batch of precious treasures to the Eastern Palace.]
As soon as he finished speaking, an inconspicuous eunuch in the hall retreated.
The First Prince's Estate
[Humph!]
[That Jia Daishan doesn't know how to appreciate favors!]
[This prince is willing to marry Mingzhu to his son. It's his Jia family's good fortune!]
The First Prince, Li Tianhuang, angrily slammed the table and cursed.
[Brother!]
[That old bastard is clearly not giving us face!]
[How about Younger Brother find someone to report him in court tomorrow?]
[Sixth Prince, Li Tian?]
He said irritably.
[Pa!]
A clear and crisp voice sounded.
Li Tianhuang picked up his teacup as if he was trying to hide something.
Li Tianhuang also obediently shut his mouth and tried his best to reduce his presence.
Jingtai looked at Li Tian indifferently.
He glanced at him and put down his teacup.
[Why didn't the Sixth Prince discuss it with me during the morning court session just now? Why did you report the matter of Gongsun Yue colluding with Xiongnu?]
Speaking of this, Jing Tai's heart burned with anger.
If it was Li Tian?
A day earlier, no!
If he had told him this matter in half a day, he would have been able to set up a trap and catch all of the Crown Prince's followers in one fell swoop.
However, Li Tian?
He had exposed this matter without permission and caused him to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
[Grandfather … I … I … just … wanted to show you and Older Brother …] As he spoke, he saw Jingtai frown and immediately shut his mouth. He couldn't help but look at his older brother for help.
Li Tian?
He was not afraid of anything, but he was most afraid of his own grandfather. Every time he was like a mouse seeing a cat, he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
After all, he was his own younger brother. What could Li Tianhuang do?
He had to swallow all good and bad.
He glared at Li Tian.
After a glance, he said, [Grandfather, what should we do now?]
[Grandfather.]
[As for the Crown Prince, regardless of whether the news this time is true or false, this old official has a way to eliminate most of the Crown Prince's men in the military.]
Although the news had already been exposed, the Crown Prince and his followers would certainly find a way to escape. Jingtai was confident that he could still cut off the Crown Prince's men in the military. This was the confidence of the head of the officials, the Grand Secretary of Baohe Hall.
[As for … the Jia Daishan, he doesn't dare to refuse this marriage.]
All these years, he and the Jia Daihua had not expressed their stance and wanted to wait for the best offer. This had already provoked the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince's dissatisfaction.
Because of the Jia family's actions this time, they had thoroughly offended both sides.
At this time, the only person he could rely on was the Eldest Prince.
If it weren't for the fact that the Jia family was deeply favored by the Emperor and had Wang Yi behind him and a close relationship with the Duke Zhen family, the Eldest Prince wouldn't have needed to marry Princess Mingzhu to win him over!
In the eyes of Jingtai, who had stood tall in Da Zhou for decades, the Jia Lian wasn't considered a big shot.
Li Tianhuang was a bit hesitant. "It's just that, that Jia Lian's temper was very violent that day. I don't know if he's someone who loves his wife and children."
Although he believed that the Jia Lian wouldn't dare to lay a hand on his beloved daughter, he was also afraid that the Jia Lian wasn't someone who cared about the cold and the heat of the fire. He was afraid that his Mingzhu would suffer.
"Rebel against him!
He dares to treat Mingzhu badly!?
See if I don't … Hmph! "
Li Tian?
He also loved his niece Princess Mingzhu very much.
Jingtai frowned. She was just a daughter. Why was he so nervous?
Although he didn't care, he wouldn't make his two grandsons unhappy over such a trivial matter.
Outside the door, a flamboyantly beautiful young lady dressed in red quietly listened to the conversation between the First Prince and the others. She held a whip that was studded with jewels in her hand. Behind her, there were several maids following. In the middle, there were two guards separating them.
Her white jade-like cheeks were stained with peach blossoms. Her beautiful eyes were filled with lust, and her expression was shy. She was so beautiful that people couldn't take their eyes off her.
Hearing that the conversation inside was about to end, she panicked and left with her maids with pride and nobility.
The person who would soon become her husband was called … Jia Lian …?